Revell 1/32 Tornado's a few questions....

[AntPhillips]

I am currently building a Revell Tornado GR.1 utilising the Paragon flap set and ejector seats, it is one of the nicest kits I've ever built and I've built quite afew over the years (but it is my first 1/32 !!!).

 

I'm enjoying the build so much that I have decided that eventually I would also like to do a Marineflieger Tornado IDS (preferably in the early colour scheme of Basaltgrau over Lichtgrau) and an RAF ADV version !!

 

I have a few questions that I hope you knowledgeable chaps can help me with :

 

Does the Revell- Monogram boxing of the IDS (the one with 2 Tornado's in the Basaltgrau/Lichtgrau scheme overflying a warship) include the Kormoran missiles or is the weapons sprue exactly as the one you don't use most of in the GR.1 kit, i.e. with refuelling pod, reconn. pod, Mk.82 bombs and what I assume are Kormoran missile rails.

 

If this is the case did the original Revell kit (the original mould version) include Kormorans ?

 

I know there were issues with the original Revell Tornado, e.g. the fuselage width and heighth of fin etc. but is there any compatabilty between the original mould and the reworked kits, i.e. would the forward fuselage of the original Revell ADV be compatible with the rear fuselage of the new issue kit, ignoring the width issues etc to give me at least a passable F.2 version.

 

I had some correspondence with Flightpath this week and they told me "The F3 (conversion) set is probably still a 'runner' - although we have quite a bit of work still to complete on it yet".

 

The new Revell kit is obviously tooled in such a way that an F.3 could be easily achieved, is it lack of sales that prevents is release or do you think Revell will do one eventually.

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

Happy modelling

Ant

[Dave Williams]

The new tool Revell-Monogram IDS with the painting of two MFG1 Tornados flying over a warship do not contain Kormorans. As you surmised, the ordnance in the kit consists of Mk. 82s w/ ballute tails, a centerline refueling pod, or a centerline recon pod. Those mystery rails not used in the kit are still a mystery as they have not been used in any of the US Revell-Monogram or RoG boxings of the new tool Tornados. My first impression what I saw the rails was that they were for HARMs, but RoG included new HARM rails in the ECR kit.

 

The old tool Tornado IDS kit (the one I had was 4761 Tornado Marinefleiger), did come with Kormorans, four to be exact, although they are somewhat crude. The old kit also had an MW-1 weapons dispenser.

 

To be honest, I don't see any indication in the kit that a F.3 is planned or easily possible. You would need at least a new lower fuselage mold with the missile recesses, as well as a new nose and forward fuselage sections, not to mention the Skyflashs and at least two more AIM-9s, if not ASRAAMs. I think there is a chance that they have decided that the mold changes or additional molds aren't worth the projected return on their investment. I'd love to be proven wrong, though, and have them come out with one.

[KOTR]

Hm, why for gods sake did RoG not release any Marineflieger-markings with the kit? I'm also planning to do my Tornado in the old two tone scheme, but there are not even aftermarket decals on one of those birdies :angry:

[Dave Williams]

Hm, why for gods sake did RoG not release any Marineflieger-markings with the kit? I'm also planning to do my Tornado in the old two tone scheme, but there are not even aftermarket decals on one of those birdies :angry:

Your best bet is to get the decals from someone who has the US R-M boxing of the kit. It has markings for MFG 1 in the grey/white scheme.

[AntPhillips]

To be honest, I don't see any indication in the kit that a F.3 is planned or easily possible.  You would need at least a new lower fuselage mold with the missile recesses, as well as a new nose and forward fuselage sections, not to mention the Skyflashs and at least two more AIM-9s, if not ASRAAMs.  I think there is a chance that they have decided that the mold changes or additional molds aren't worth the projected return on their investment.  I'd love to be proven wrong, though, and have them come out with one.

Hi Dave, thanks for your comments, my thought on the possibility of an ADV/F.3 to come are based on the following :

 

On the F.3 only the forward pair of Skyflash missiles are properly semi recessed the rear pair are mounted on fairings that protrude below the fuselage (see photo below), as Revell have broken the fuselage at just the point that the recesses begin and as a new forward fuselage would be required anyway, the missile recesses could be incorporated into the new mould. The other manufacturers that have kitted both IDS and ADV models have gone this route.

 

The other main feature of the F.3 the extended tailpipe would aso be a simple mod as Revell have also provided the rear fusege joint at the same point as the extended tailpipes/fuselage begins, the fin base fairing is also supplied as seperate parts so this too could be incorporated on the new sprue.

 

The only area that I can see would provide real problems are the wing glove fillets, as those on the F.3 are much sharper than those on the IDS, and the only way I can se these being done would be as scab on parts much like the forward fin RWR housing (these are fitted to all IDS versions the fact that Revell provide these as add on parts leads me to believe that they at least contemplated the possibility of an ADV at some point).

 

In short Revell would only need 1 or 2 new sprues incorporating a new forward fuselage and cockpit, a new rear fuselage/tailpipe fairing, some miscellaneous airframe mods (wing glove and fin fairings) and the AAM missile load/pylons.

 

I'm inclined to agree with you that all the changes necessary, probably killed any planned version stone dead, maybe if the Luftwaffe had bought the ADV too, then we would now have a nice ADV/F.3 kit on the market .

 

I'll wait on the Flightpath set but I think that I might have to consider selling some of my bodyparts to pay for it.

 

Living in hope and most definitely not holding my breath.

Ant

[AntPhillips]

Hm, why for gods sake did RoG not release any Marineflieger-markings with the kit? I'm also planning to do my Tornado in the old two tone scheme, but there are not even aftermarket decals on one of those birdies :angry:

Hi Michael, thanks again for the instruction sheet scans

 

I have managed to obtain one of the Revell-Monogram kits from Ebay, (but won't see it for a couple of weeks), hence my question about the Kormorans, since they are not included I will make do with a couple of HARM's that I obtained from an ECR kit, but I think they came in to service too late for the 2-tone scheme, can you confirm.

 

It is a shame no one has done any aftermarket decals for the Marineflieger schemes, maybe AirDoc will come to the rescue.

 

I have obtained some Tauro decals for Italian Air Force Tornados, and if we can persuade someone to do decals for the Saudi camouflage scheme, then I will have to seek out another GR.1 kit.

 

Happy modelling

Ant

[KOTR]

The two tone scheme was only used on MFG-1 aircrafts, as this unit was the first of the two to be equipped with the Tornado, that was in 1982. First trials of the wrap-around scheme took place in 1985. MFG-2 received their Tornados in 1986, and they had from the beginning on the new camo scheme.

 

According to this page, the capability to use the HARM was introduced with the block 5 aircrafts, the one delivered to MFG-2. Thus the earlier aircrafts cannot use the HARM, as far as I can see.

 

I still hope on Airdoc too, maybe I should contact them if they have future plans